xbox live

21stNov2012

The developers at Sumo Digital have tuned up their old car, shoved a jalapeno up the tailpipe, changed the belts, look, whatever generic trope you want to indicate for the existence of Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed. You know, that Sonic and Sega racing game? They made another one of those.

Without a doubt, it’s a better game than the predecessor. It’s more of everything: more vehicles, more characters, better physics, more track variety, and so on. It also does what it can to give character/item based racers the competitive edge that the genre has difficulty in reaching. On the other hand, the game has mishaps and hiccups that occur more often than it should which can cause the game to be a frustrating experience, especially in some of the game’s more heated situations.

3rdApr2012

To promote the upcoming release of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, SEGA has released a bunch of new avatar items. These include apparel your avatar can wear, like a full body Tails suit that’ll either make you look cool or creepy (320 MSP), a couple of hoodies in Sonic and Tails variants (240 MSP), a T-shirt with just the Sonic 4 Episode II logo on it (80 MSP) and last but not least, a Metal Sonic helmet.

But as the image above suggests, that’s not all of the new things available. There are a bunch of new props that would actually be pretty neat in real life your avatar can play with as well. These include a remote controlled Metal Sonic toy (240 MSP), a Drawstring Tails Plushie (240 MSP), a couple of toys based on two new badniks from Episode II (240 MSP), a Capsule toy complete with small animals (240 MSP), a game cartridge of Sonic 4 Episode II complete with a SEGA Genesis hooked up to an item monitor (240 MSP) and a half-pipe from the special stage (240 MSP). While to me this is all useless crap that costs way too much, there is actually some cool stuff in there if you’re into dressing up your Avatar. All of these items are now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Below are more pictures of most of the new Avatar items mentioned here.

7th December2011

SEGA just announced that the Sonic Generations Casino Night Zone pinball stage console users could have gotten as a pre-order bonus will be released as DLC for the Steam version. While PC gamers haven’t been able to play the stage yet (at least, not officially), they will be from December 26th, which is when it will be released for USD $1.59, GBP £0.99, EUR €1.59 or AUD $2.99 depending on where you live. Here is a video of the stage played on the Xbox 360 (courtesy of Youtube user AestheticGamer):

Also announced are PS3 dynamic themes and Xbox Live Avatar items themed after the same game. The PS3 themes have either modern or classic Sonic (depending on which theme you buy) doing a pose on Green Hill zone, which has the sunflowers spinning and the waterfall moving in the background. These will be available later today in Europe when the Playstation Store updates for £1.59/€1.99 each. Meanwhile Xbox Live users will get a variety of costumes for their Avatar with Super Sonic, Classic Sonic and Classic Amy respectively (for 240 points each) as well as a t-shirt (160 points) and cap (80 points) with the Sonic Generations logo on them tomorrow when the Xbox Live Marketplace updates. Pictures and videos of the goodies can be found here.

13th September2011

Some users are reporting quite a few new shots of Sonic Generations appearing on Xbox Live that probably shouldn’t have gone live yet. Yet others are reporting seeing the usual shots of Green Hill Zone. Either way, you all win. Aside from the above of Modern Sonic death racing Shadow on an unknown stage–the ARK?–echoing Classic Sonic death racing Metal Sonic, we also get to see the Death Egg Robot fight Classic Sonic will take part in, showing a newer spin on the boss.

Planet Wisp is also shown, looking just a tad crisper than how it appeared in last year’s Wii title Sonic Colours and a shot of Modern Sonic and Classic Sonic interacting in the timeless “mirrored reflection” pantomime.

22nd June2011

To those of you who patiently waited and didn’t get a chance to sample the demo at Sonic Boom for whatever reason, your waiting is over. Starting tomorrow, both Xbox Live and PSN will be receiving the demo to Sonic’s upcoming adventure.
Unlike the Sonic Boom build patrons got to sample, this version will only feature Classic Sonic’s version of Green Hill Zone Act 1, omitting Modern Sonic entirely.

One small catch: the demo will only be available for 20 days. After that, the demo will be removed from the services and downloaded copies will expire. Whether this is an anti-hacking measure or a way to build up hype by releasing a second demo with modern Sonic remains to be seen.

Fox Xbox Live users, the same rule as other demos applies in that Gold level users will be getting the demo first with Silver level peons waiting until next week. Don’t think burning demos to a disc works, as members on our forum are saying that no longer works.

Demo aside, Sega will also release a 20th Anniversary Bundle consisting of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, Sonic Adventure (and its DX add-on), and the Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 dynamic theme on PSN for $19.99/£13.99/€17.99. A similar deal is expected for Xbox Live users. The offer also expires on July 12.

13th April2011

If you haven’t played Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing yet, what’s wrong with you? It’s a cool game, man. Now, you have no excuses, because SEGA just discounted it to $29.99 and you can buy it from the comfort of your own home. They’re making it too easy for you. Check the press release, doofuses:

SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced that Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing™ is now for sale through the Xbox LIVE® Games On Demand platform for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The hit arcade racing game, starring SEGA’s eclectic ensemble of heroes and villains, is available for immediate download, allowing players to jump right in to frantic, explosive races with up to four local players, or eight online players.

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing puts players on the track and in the shoes of a host of popular SEGA characters, from the blue blur himself to AiAi and Dr. Eggman, each with their own unique vehicle. Players must use their driving skills to drift and dodge their way to a checkered flag in a variety of single-player modes, as well as multiplayer races both off and online. The racer is the latest title to appear in SEGA’s growing library of download-ready games through Xbox LIVE Games On Demand, including hits such as Bayonetta™ and Aliens vs. Predator™.